Colosseum’s First Phase Upgrades Complete

Rome’s famous Colosseum is a fragile artifact despite its imposing façade. In an effort to preserve it, the landmark is undergoing a series of renovations and restorations. Its most extensive to date and the first phase of the upgrades are complete as of this summer.

The renovations are being funded by shoe and luxury goods company Tod’s, whose founder Diego Della Valle answered the Italian government’s cry for funding help. The country is chronically underfunded when it comes to the upkeep of its many artifacts and archaeological sites.

The restoration was unveiled in early July, and the building sported a brighter façade that washed off decades of pollution from Rome’s car-clogged streets. Italy’s culture minister Dario Franceschini announced that €18 million — around $20 million — have been earmarked to replace, by the end of 2018, the Colosseum’s floor with one that can support modern entertainment. The Colosseum has long been missing its original floor, with its bottom level open to reveal the building’s underbelly.

The building’s first stage cleaning involved removing pollution via water misters and hand brushes. The process took three years.